Yayness, narrow noses, and changing pressure on F&P HC23

[Thren]

Thanks to all who replied to my last post, I was lazy and working and like a cad didn't reply there, so I shall reply here. I feel all welcomed and loved (well, newbie-loved) and everything. I really appreciate all the advice.

I called the place where I got my machine and found out that they can change the pressure +/- 2 without the doctor getting involved, so I got it moved up to 9 [from 8], as they were of the opinion that the problems I've been having are less from mask problems and more from wrong setting. I also got a larger pillow for my mask, which has SO solved a zillion problems. No leaks (or at least, far fewer than with the other one), and so incredibly more comfortable I can hardly believe I went all those months with sores in my nose and that horrible pressure sore that looked too much like a zit for my ego to handle.

Anyway, mask issues solved for now. I got to try on a mask I've been jonesing for and found it didn't fit, so I'm glad for not having to drop a wad to find that one out. My nose is too narrow and my head is too fat. Sigh. I'm looking at this mask now, but I'm wondering- would it be completely unethical/unthinkable to use their one-week trial program to give it a whirl, then say I don't like it (and thus not buy from them), and get it off the website instead? Because they're charging $300 and it's only about $75 on the site, and I'm very poor...

On that note, anyone here have a narrow nose? Everyone in my family has a wide nose, and I'm the only one with narrow- and here it's causing me no end of problems finding a decent mask. If you do have, what sorts of masks work for you? Nasal masks seem to be right out for me- way too many leaks because I don't have enough nose to hold it up.

My real reason for posting is that I was bemoaning the fact I couldn't just change the pressure on my machine myself (within the range the tech gave on my study, of course)- and I just figured out how. Couldn't be that hard, really, the thing's only got four buttons and one of them is on/off, but still! If one owns a Fisher & Paykel HC233, said one can get to the pressure setting by holding down the top and bottom buttons at the same time (that would be 'ramp' and '>'). The first thing to pop up for change is the altitude, but if you hit > again it'll take you to the pressure setting. Up or down to your liking, then hit > to set it. Voila!

[dc2011]

If one owns a Fisher & Paykel HC233, said one can get to the pressure setting by holding down the top and bottom buttons at the same time (that would be 'ramp' and '>'). The first thing to pop up for change is the altitude, but if you hit > again it'll take you to the pressure setting. Up or down to your liking, then hit > to set it.

[Janknitz]

I have a very narrow nose, and the best mask for me is a nasal pillow, but I do OK with the ResMed air cushion masks like the Quattro, Quattro FX, and Micro. The big trick is to understand that that cushion needs to be fully inflated to hug your nose and seal it off from leaks. That means that the top straps must be VERY loose.

If you are doing OK with the nasal pillows, I'd stick with them, although you may want a FF mask as a backup for those nights when you have nasal congestion from a cold or allergies.

[LSAT]

Jan...Answering post from Jan 2008.